Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1887-08-19
COMMUNICATED.

Editor Of the RegiSter.-As the fall OF the
year approaches every farmer is compelled to
notice what progress he has made during the
season in the business in which lie Is engaged.
He must notice closely the yield OF his wheat
crop and what price he is likely to get for 1t
when he is ready TO put II into market. lie
must notice his corn and, in TACT, everything
that is produced on his farm, and form some
estimate of what amount OF money they VIII
bring and how that money for what he has
tOsell will meet his expenses and enable him
To keep even and out OF debt until time and
hard work brings again another crop into his
possession. BY looking into these things in
the way we should, there is no farmer in our
county to-day who can fail 10 see that partial
failure and low prices of grain and farm pro-
duce make IL a matter OF necessity for him TO
practice the strtctest economy IN order that
he may keep out of debt and make living
for himself and family. The farmers OF our
community are not alone in complaining OF
"hard times" We are told that every branch
OF trade is suffering, that the depression in
business is general and that not only one
but all except our teachers III shepherds
town district) are compelled to practice econ
omy in living. There Is, however, one crop
in Jefferson county that seems never TO fail,
but gets larger and larger every year That
is our crop of taxes. And rs long as we have
n few bonds to fund in our county to cost
$4,000, and a few teachers in the Shepherds
town Graded School for our Board OF Educa-
ton TO favor, ii is not likely the tax crop Will
fail though every citizen in our school dis
trict should be driven TO take up his abode in
the county alms-house. We don't wish to go
into our county affairs and speak OF the peo-
pies money being squandered. The object
for which we bother you (for the last time on
this subject to publish another article for us
Is TO notice some things that have been done
by the Board OF Education OF ShepherdstOwn
district which we think entirely wrong ana
which If we are to judge from the opinions
expressed by every one in our community,
should be reconsidered and righted for the
benefit ofthe taxpayers as well as the public
Of Hon a .Na.l ~
pay the teachers who were teaching on a No.
| certificate the very good salary Of $40 per
month for their services. For some cause or
other, which seems to be ''veiled In mystery
they afterwards favored the teachers of the
Graded school, paying the Principal $500, $50
more than was right, and the assistants $3.50,
$50 than was right for teaching the term
OF nine months. The Graded School at this
rate would cost the district for salaries about
81, 800, being almost as much as is required to
pay the teachers OF all the country schools To-
Gated in Shepherdstown district. In addition
to the available funds on hand, the Board in
order to run the schools nine months were
compelled to draw, by extra levy, from the
people Of the district the large sum OF S3,1l2.13
forthe teachers fund, which with 81 ,i95.W
building fund, VIII make no small amount
for the taxpayers to scrape up these hard
times. The amount of taxes which Will come
from the suO-district OF Shepherdstown for
the teachers fund will not be one-seventh
of the s3,7l2.73 required. The truth of this
statement can be ascertained by looking at
the Sherinrs books. Then when we sum
these figures up and find that the Board Of
Education spends nearly one half OF all this
money paid by the people Of the district on
one school, and that the teachers of that school
are paid nearly as much as the teachers in
the whole balance part OF Shepherdstown dis
trict, is IL any wonder that the people Of the
country complain and wish that Shepherds
town was an independent district, and that
they modestly ask explanation OF why $500 OF
their money is voted away to favor the
teachers of the Graded School of Shepherds
town. FARMER.